The oldest and most common treatment for spider veins on the legs is sclerotherapy. This involves injection of a sclerosing agent into the veins, which irritates the vessels, causing them to scar and become less noticeable. Some surgeons use a concentrated (hypertonic) saline solution, while others use different sclerosing agents. Often, the veins do not actually go away, but become less visible because of the reaction around the walls of the vein. The injections may sting a bit, especially if saline is used, but the discomfort does not last long. Another treatment, which is sometimes effective, is the use of a laser. This is especially true in the facial area, where the laser may be the preferred method of treatment. Deep veins and varicose veins are not effectively treated with these methods. In order to treat varicose veins, surgery is usually performed for optimal results.
